Willis Otieno: When police serve whims over people’s will, they become tools of oppression
By Faith Lagat, September 18, 2025Safina Party Deputy Leader Willis Otieno has criticised police officers who tend to put orders above peoples’ will.
In his commentary dated September 18, 2025, Otieno criticised police actions justified as “orders from above,” arguing that in a democracy, authority ultimately rests with the citizens.
“When the police serve the whims of individuals instead of the will of the people, they cease to be guardians of law and become tools of oppression,” he wrote, calling for systemic reforms to strengthen accountability and citizen trust.
Calls for citizen oversight
Otieno proposed the creation of People’s Boards at every police station, drawing a parallel with Boards of Management in schools and Boards of Governors in health centers. “Every police station must have a People’s Board, drawn from the community, to supervise those meant to serve them,” he stated.
He said such boards would ensure accountability, curb corruption, and align policing with democratic ideals. “Without oversight, power corrupts. And when it comes to policing, unchecked power has too often meant brutality, cover-ups, and impunity,” Otieno warned, reflecting public frustration over past abuses.
“If schools have Boards of Management and health centers have Boards of Governors, then why should police stations, institutions that carry guns and immense power, operate without direct citizen oversight?
“Every police station must have a People’s Board, drawn from the community, to supervise those meant to serve them. Just as parents oversee schools and communities guide hospitals, citizens must hold the police accountable. Because without oversight, power corrupts. And when it comes to policing, unchecked power has too often meant brutality, cover-ups, and impunity.”
Police reforms in motion
The call for citizen-led oversight coincides with wider reforms in Kenya’s police framework.
On September 17, 2025, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2030 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), focusing on transparency, cooperation, and the use of technology to curb corruption and enhance professionalism.
IPOA Chairperson Isaack Hassan urged officers to embrace the reforms, noting that technology will align policing with Kenya’s digitisation agenda.
The plan, welcomed by the National Police Service (NPS) through Deputy Director Legal Charles Otiende Otieno, aims to foster professionalism and strengthen trust between police and communities, running alongside the NPS Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
Despite the reforms, differing perspectives remain. Former police spokesperson Charles Owino defended the use of firearms as a standard policing practice, urging Kenyans to “face reality” while condemning indiscipline by both officers and citizens. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions over the June 2025 Gen Z protests, during which a number of people were killed.